Received a WhatsApp Message Saying Money Was Debited From Your Bank Account? Hyderabad Police Commissioner Issues a Major Cyber Fraud Warning:

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar has warned people about a new type of cyber fraud involving WhatsApp messages that claim money has been debited from their bank accounts. He cautioned that replying “NO” to such messages could put people at risk of financial fraud, even if the message does not contain a suspicious link or ask for an OTP.

In this scam, fraudsters send messages claiming that money has been taken from the recipient’s bank account. They then ask the person to reply “NO” immediately if they did not make the transaction. The message is designed to create panic and make people respond without checking whether the information is genuine. The warning comes after reports that a chartered accountant lost a large amount of money in a similar scam.

According to the commissioner, responding to such messages may expose users to further cyber risks. Criminals may try to trick victims into downloading harmful software that could give them access to their phones and sensitive financial information. However, the exact method used in this reported scam has not been clearly explained, and simply replying to a message does not necessarily infect a phone.

Sajjanar advised people not to respond to suspicious messages from unknown numbers. He stressed that the absence of an OTP request or a suspicious link does not mean a message is genuine. People should block the sender, delete the chat and check their bank accounts only through official banking apps, websites or customer care numbers.

Cybercriminals have also been using WhatsApp to spread harmful Android applications by pretending to be bank employees. In some cases, scammers send APK files claiming that they are needed to complete Know Your Customer (KYC) verification. Installing these apps and granting them access to a phone can put personal details and financial information at risk.

The commissioner advised anyone who notices an unauthorised transaction to contact their bank immediately, report the fraud and ask the bank to monitor their account. Victims can also call India’s national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or file a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

Sajjanar urged the public not to panic after receiving messages claiming that money has been withdrawn from their accounts. He advised people to verify every transaction independently and avoid acting in haste based on messages from unknown senders.